I hope you all had a relaxing holiday break with friends and family. Our students are back in the classroom and working diligently as the second half of the 2014-2015 school year begins.

Administrators and staff continue with preparations for the implementation of the new state-mandated PARCC computer-based assessments in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy, as well as DLM testing assessments. The DLM System integrates assessment with instruction during the year and provides a year-end assessment. The DLM system is accessible by students with significant cognitive disabilities, including those who also have hearing or visual disabilities, and/or neuromuscular, orthopedic, or other motor disabilities. Its flexibility allows for the use of common assistive technologies in addition to keyboard and touch-screen technology.

We have begun to pilot a new educational platform called Teach Mate. This app allows existing academic content and materials to be modified to target all developmental levels and promote inclusion for students during classroom lessons. Students’ unique academic, communication, and behavior needs are addressed through the use of personalized schedules, visual stories, and research-based language tools that use images from students’ actual environments to enhance independent living skills.

Keep safe and warm with this frigid winter weather we are experiencing.